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Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

There is a reason why Justice is Blind,
She refuses to look in the eyes of the wrongfully accused,
She holds the scales knowing the poor are unbalanced,
The sword to slay whomever she chooses.

Touch the scales on both sides you must be white,
Who wants to be a witness?
They will make you an accomplice when you are right.
Being black makes me question my existence,
It would take more than a dream to convict me if I was white.

Being black means prison is a part of life,
That’s why Justice is blind,
She never has to deal with the heartbreak of sight.
She can take the life of the innocent,
It’s not her fault she cannot see,
Although she makes the same mistakes twice.

Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author. Prison Journalism Project has verified the writer’s identity and basic facts such as the names of institutions mentioned.

Carnell Wingfield Jr. is a writer and poet incarcerated in California. He is a sociology major at Feather River College and also graduated with distinction from Blackstone Career Institute's paralegal course.